Drop the pretence: instead of parading a love of highbrow literature, just enjoy the books you want to readToughen up. It’s the end of the line for soft, middle-class authors. Lefty-baiting headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh has declared that “gentle parenting” advice books by middle-class writers are sabotaging families by insisting adults become friends with their children.She’s probably got a point – most mums and dads have watched with a cocked eyebrow as a Boden-clad parent has tranquilly informed little Johnny that punching another child in the face while playing in the sandpit “might not be what they like” – but I say Birbalsingh is not going far enough. Why stop with the parenting books? Why not fillet the whole damn bookcase of toxically middle-class ideas? Visionaries such as Chairman Mao have tried it before – with, admittedly, mixed results – but this time we’ll do it right. Continue reading...
The article critiques the middle-class tendency to prioritize prestigious literary works, such as those by Salman Rushdie, as a form of social status rather than genuine enjoyment. It argues for a "detoxification" of bookshelves by replacing these works with more accessible or "working-class" literature, such as Dan Brown's novels or classic adventure books. The author suggests that reading has become overly tied to social signaling and advocates for a reset in literary taste to move away from pretentiousness and competitiveness.
